outbreaks with suppressive therapy

[johnt2]

I think i may have acquired hsv in may, and i went on 1000mg suppressive therapy for a couple weeks and got off wednesday and i had sex for the past week leading up to that, and i stopped taking the valtrex on wednesday and now i have some redness under my penis but i think it could be from rough sex, there is no pain just some small red dots and dryness. so my questions are how long does 1000mg supression stay in your system, and what is the likelyhood of getting an outbreak while on valtrex or in the day after taking valtrex.

[johnt2]

to clarify, it is potentially hsv-1. i recieved oral twice and followed it with igm and igg testing at 4 weeks from the first exposure, a couple of days from the second, and then i had an additional round of testing at 12 weeks from the first exposure, and 7 weeks from the second exposure. i had positive igm tests both times and negative igg both times so im going back in a few weeks to test the igg again. the doctor thinks its either hsv-1 or a false positive.

[gracefromHHP]

the igm herpes test is a poor test in general and should never be used. it can't be used to diagnose a newly acquired herpes infection.

you had no genital symptoms previously?

at this point I wouldn't bother with any more blood tests. they are useless in diagnosing hsv1 genitally. you need lesion cultures of active symptoms to properly ( and accurately ) diagnose hsv1 genitally.

I would NOT take any more valtrex either.

grace

[johnt2]

thank you for your response grace. After my first exposure I had a red bump that wasnt sensitive when touched, combined with a positive igm and I know the igm is meaningless but I've never had an oral symptom. What are your thoughts on the situation that I am currently experiencing?

[gracefromHHP]

my thoughts are you need to go and be seen and have this looked at.   No more valtrex unless you get a + lesion culture of active symptoms.

a bump that doesn't hurt, probably isn't herpes related.

grace

[johnt2]

grace, I used baby powder on the area and the redness and dots went away in 3 days. Would this happen if they are herpes sores?

[gracefromHHP]

Yes, herpes lesions will heal on their own too.  

You'll need to follow up on this to get better answers.

grace